Thursday, July 17, 2014

Ozark Beer Company

In the beer-related "Official Size and Weight Newsletter" sent weekly by one of my Arkansas friends, John Wells, I learned about the Ozark Beer Company. Craft beer has come to the Ozarks, and John says the OCB is a good craft beer place:

[A]t Ozark Beer Co. . . . brewer Andy Coates is making some OUTSTANDING brews. Southern Living Magazine named Ozark the "Favorite Southern Craft Beer in the State of Arkansas" (June 2014 issue) and right now you'll not get an argument out of me. Their APA and Onyx Coffee Stout are just as good as they come, period, and I also had a taster of their Belgian Golden, IPA and Cream Stout and was very impressed with them all. I brought a 12-pack of the APA home with me but fear it's not going to see a very long life. Watch these guys.

The photo above dates to when the brewers were just getting started, I reckon. But before they got started, the head brewer had some training:

Andy had an apprenticeship with Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, and was subsequently hired as a full-time brewer. He learned the ins and outs of a large-scale production brewery, and enjoyed cellar work and the finishing process of a beer (carbonating, and filtering the beer, so that it is ready to be packaged), recipe development, barrel aging, and sensory analysis. It was an invaluable experience that gave him the skillset needed to operate a successful brewing operation.

Take some time to read their story. I wish I could visit this brewery and taste-test to see if it lives up to expectations, but maybe Cousin Bill can check it out . . .

Jeff & JK ,Haven’t yet sipped an OBC beer, although the “Belgian Style Golden Strong” sounds like the one to my liking. The brewery is located in downtown Rogers and I might have to make a visit (designating Cheryl as my chauffeur), but first I’ll see if it’s available at the nearby Macadoodles’(Fine Wine, Beer & Spirits). Interesting how OBC began, see: http://ozarkbeercompany.com/our-culture/.Cuz Bill

Yep, OBC is right here in my town off 1st Street about two blocks north of New Hope Road. I have been there and tried them all, not all in the same trip though! The Cream Stout is as smooth and robust as any stout I have had. Some of the eateries around town are carrying one or two of their brews as well. I hope they continue to be successful and stay around for a long time.

Would be happy to meet Bill any time. BTW....the brewery is not really in "downtown" Rogers as it is south of the downtown area by a mile or so. OBC is in an old tin building that I believe used to be an HVAC company in the past. There is no real sign telling anyone it is a brewery other than the OBC logo on the front of the building. Gravel praking lot with limited space but the effort to get in is worth it.

Jay, Let's meet sometime and enjoy a brew together....being's my "tipsy" allowance is rather limited, maybe "chugging" one might be better at one of the local eateries offering OBC's products. Jeff has my email address. Bill

About Me

I am a professor at Ewha Womans University, where I teach composition, research writing, and cultural issues, including the occasional graduate seminar on Gnosticism and Johannine theology and the occasional undergraduate course on European history.
My doctorate is in history (U.C. Berkeley), with emphasis on religion and science. My thesis is on John's gospel and Gnosticism.
I also work as one-half of a translating team with my wife, and our most significant translation is Yi Kwang-su's novel The Soil, which was funded by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea.
I'm also an award-winning writer, and I recommend my novella, The Bottomless Bottle of Beer, to anyone interested.
I'm originally from the Arkansas Ozarks, but my academic career -- funded through doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Naumann, Lady Davis) -- has taken me through Texas, California, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and Israel and has landed me in Seoul, South Korea. I've also traveled to Mexico, visited much of Europe, including Moscow, and touched down briefly in a few East Asian countries.
Hence: "Gypsy Scholar."